This happened to me the other night. I had a few friend over and they were picking through my library on Plex and they asked me to suggest something because they know I watch a ton of films and series. I suggested that we watch Smile because they said they enjoy horror films and they hadn't heard much about this one.
As the next 90 minutes went on I found myself getting annoyed by their watching habits and it occurred to me that maybe I am being a bit too "strict" about how people watch films and should relax a bit.
src
I think that when it is your suggestion that a film be watched when that was not the plan for the evening at all that there is a certain decorum that should be utilized by the people that are watching. My friends violated nearly all of those protocols when watching the movie last night.
It wasn't that late but I think we were like 10 minutes into the film when one of my friends was incessantly yawning. Smile is not a boring film and ok, perhaps he was just tired but honestly, if you are that tired, why would you suggest to put on a 90 minute obligation.
To make matters even more annoying for me, both of my friends would get up and leave the room for various reasons while the movie was on and be gone for long periods of time. Then they would come back and have a bunch of questions about what is going on. Maybe I am just being a bit of a jerk here, but don't elect to go in the other room and have a phone conversation for 10 minutes, not ask anyone to pause it, and then come back oblivious to the story and expect the other people to fill you in.
When the other friend started messing about on their phone I asked if they wanted me to turn if off or if they were not enjoying it. They both either lied or are just weird film-watchers because both of them insisted they really liked it. Smile isn't a super complicated movie but I really don't like it when people ask me to explain what is going on because as someone that has already seen the movie, I don't want to accidentally give away certain parts of the plot that hasn't already been put on screen.
src
Now I am not suggesting that people need to suffer and pretend to enjoy something they are not. I have been to film events where I didn't actually like the movie and left early. It is a bit different when it was YOUR idea in the first place though and I think there is a certain amount of protocol that needs to be observed if you watch a movie at someone's house and you elected to do it.
- Watch the movie. Stop fucking around on your phone for 90 minutes. You are not a doctor. You do not need to be in contact with the outside world at all times
- Ask for the movie to be paused if you do need to go to the bathroom or anything else. It's impolite and makes the host nervous when you give impressions that you are bored.
- Be Honest: If you are not enjoying the movie it will be more appreciated by the host if you just say that this is not your style and exit that way rather than not paying attention to something that they arranged for you
- If you are exhausted and are going to be yawning the whole way through the movie just say you are too tired and go home
Maybe I have watched so many films and series that I take it a bit more seriously than other people. I will recognize that this is definitely a possibility.
When the film was over and we moved on to our last words of the night before my friends left my apartment I joked with them about how "I am never watching a film with you guys here again." They laughed but I think they kind of understood that I was serious. We will laugh about it later I am sure.
It occurred to me last night that the attention span of most people (including me) has diminished in the digital age. We expect immediate gratification from a film and for this reason I reckon it is much more difficult to make a film these days then it would have been in the past. For me, I am going to make absolutely sure that my friends are actually interested in the film in question or better yet, we will just watch something that none of us have ever seen before.